John Caterino has been an invited Santa Claus guest hundreds of times at locations ranging from Balboa Park to neighborhood gatherings. His natural long white beard and hair, his warm smile and demeanor and his Santa outfit help many children believe he is Santa. Caterino, 67, recalled about five years ago one little boy did not initially believe. While sitting on Caterino’s knee, the child said, “You’re not a real Santa Claus. All the fake Santas’ beards come off.” “The boy then pulled on my beard, but it did not come off,” Caterino said. “I asked ‘now do you believe?’ […]
